How you think and feel about church matters—to you, and to your church. It matters especially if you’ve ever been concerned about the way in which your church is going about its healing mission.
Lest any of us think we are the first ones to leave a church board or membership meeting shaking our heads, consider what Paul wrote to the church in Colossae, to a group of early Christians who were also earnestly trying to establish their church and its healing mission. He told them to put off “anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication” and that there truly is “neither Greek nor Jew . . . bond nor free.” He said they should strive more than anything else to put on the “bond of perfectness,” love. He advised them to “let the peace of God rule” in their hearts (see Col., chap. 3).
Prayer for church can begin with turning from personal opinions and feelings to seeing more clearly the spiritual, peaceful, unified nature of God and His children. Gaining more of this divine perspective isn’t always easy, but it ultimately reveals the idea of church that fosters and increases healing, and that makes church truly relevant.
